Guttering is one of the most important aspects of building a home. Disregarding it may cause you a lot of problems.
A good gutter system drains rainwater in an organized manner. It leads rainwater away from the sides of the house, and the foundation. This is crucial because having rain water running through the sides and foundations of the home can cause erosion and cracks which will cause considerable damage in your home in the long run. Without a good gutter system, rainwater could also flow underneath the roof, which can cause roof damage as well as leaks inside your home, causing even more water damage not just in your house but also to your belongings.
Installing a good gutter system will always be cheaper than the cost to repair the damage caused by rainwater in your home. And so, it is only wise to know which guttering materials are the best ones to use. There are two types of gutter materials that are commonly used by the roofers on residential properties today: Aluminum and UPVC or the Unplaticized Polyvinyl Chloride. Let us compare and see the difference between these two guttering materials.
Resilience Aspect
When it comes to durability, Aluminum is the best material to use. It can stand bad weather conditions. It also has a baked enamel finish and is rust free which means that repainting is not required for this type of material.
Aluminum has a very long lifespan; it can last from 30 years to 70 years. Whereas the UPVC guttering has the tendency to be brittle and therefore breakdown sooner. Like other plastic guttering, prolonged exposure to sunlight and rain will damage the material. UPVC can also easily crack when subjected to strong forces such as impact from falling branches, rocks, and hailstones. UPVC is expected to last from 10 years to 25 years, which is quite shorter compared to Aluminum.
Function and Effectiveness
Despite aluminum’s durability, UPVC gutters are the more commonly used in the construction of residential houses because of its cost and availability. But once it is damaged, UPVC gutters will start to leak and cause damage to the rest of the house when not repaired. On the other hand, Aluminum can serve its purpose effectively because it is malleable. Aluminum guttering can be installed seamlessly which means this type of guttering is less likely to leak. It can also be modified to the shape that fits your home. UPVC gutters cannot be reshaped, so it is very important to buy the correct shape and size when buying some to avoid unnecessary waste of money.
Cost and Maintenance
Aluminum is expensive compared to UPVC gutters. But one should remember to weigh in the cost of maintenance as well as the quality and lifespan of the material. While maintenance costs for both materials are low, UPVC may be more costly to maintain more because once it is damaged, it won’t keep its original functionality. As for the aluminium gutter, most of the time, bending and reshaping the gutter will fix the problem.
The Verdict
UPVC gutters are cheaper to install but they don’t last long compared to aluminium gutters. Aluminum gutters are more expensive but are reasonably priced considering they will save you from spending money on repairing leaks and other damages. Seamless Aluminum guttering is the better choice not only for its low-maintenance feature and durability, but also for being eco-friendly and recyclable.